December is short and sweet since there’s really only one movie I’m looking forward to, but it promises to be a good one.

Assassin’s Creed – December 21

Going to have to sneak this one in either before or after the Christmas visit to my parents because it is so not their type of movie. I’ve played the first few of the many games in the Assassin’s Creed series, which put you in the point-of-view of a modern day person who’s been taken captive by a shadowy research lab to gain access to the memories of his (or her) genetic ancestor. In this case, that’s series newcomer Callum Lynch, played by the fabulous Michael Fassbender, who delves into the memories of his assassin ancestor Aguilar in 15th Century Spain. I expect a lot of sneakily stabbing people, parkour, and jumping off of tall buildings for no damn good reason.

I hope everyone out there is having a great day, either with the family they grew up with or the family they have found since then. Even if you’re alone physically, know you’re not truly alone. There are people out there that care about you and people that, right now, miss you. If you can’t think of someone that misses you, then I’ll be that person. I invite you to my virtual Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) and when we go around and say what we’re thankful for, I’ll say I’m thankful for you. (I’ve got an open call for anyone who wants me to send them a holiday card here.)

October was a complete bust as far as things I was actually interested in seeing in theaters, but November more than makes up for it with three solid movies that are sure to delight.

Doctor Strange – November 4

The next in the growing line of Marvel Cinematic Universe stories, this film introduces us to core Avengers member, Doctor Strange. I believe he’s also the first non-mutant magic-user introduced in the universe. (Scarlet Witch being the mutant daughter of Magneto, though her magic isn’t actually part of her mutation.) I never read much Doctor Strange growing up, though he has popped up in fanfiction from time to time, so his origin story is fairly new to me. I’m interested in seeing what Bandicoot Cumbersnatch does with the role, though as much as I adore Tilda Swinton, why’d they cast a white woman in the role of an old Asian man?

To start right off, I have nothing against Christians or Christianity. I was one. I know several who are wonderful and kind folks. But those aren’t the ones that get talked about because those aren’t the ones that stick out. We all know they’re there, but they’re the silent majority, kind of like “not all men” but yes, some men and yes, some Christians.

This past weekend I was back in my hometown for my grandfather’s funeral which was held at the church that’s right next door to my parents’ house, also known as the house where I grew up. It was a Methodist service as my family is Methodist and my parents attend service as often as their declining health allows. The service was lovely and lead by a wonderful pastor that I’d never met before, as the pastor I’d grown up with had passed away and the church has switched hands a few times since I stopped being an Easter and Christmas Christian for the sake of my parents.

I’m very much looking forward to attending the 2017 iteration of Rainbow Con! Rainbow Con’s held a whole lot of firsts for me. It was the first convention I attended where I was travelling alone, the first convention where I had met literally no one that was going to be there and really had only barely met some of the people who’d be there while working with them online, and the first convention that I attended as a published author. I was a volunteer at both the 2014 and 2015 convention (since at this point, I’m so used to running the conventions I’m at that it feels wrong to go to a convention and just attend) and it was a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun.